Sri Lanka is an island nation located off the southeast coast of India with a population of over 20 million people. It has a long history and was formerly known as Ceylon. Sri Lanka has a diverse landscape that includes beaches, hills, rivers and lakes. The majority of the population is Sinhalese and Buddhist, while there are also significant Tamil, Muslim and Burgher populations. Sri Lanka has a high literacy rate and a developing economy focused on industries like tourism, tea, rubber and textiles. The country is working to develop its infrastructure after decades of civil war and has promising prospects for continued economic growth.

1. Sri Lanka A land worth visiting! By Ajithaa Edirimane

2. Sri Lanka

3. Geographical Location Former names - Silan Diva – (island of gems) Taprobane Serendib Ceilao Ceylon Sri Lanka – name changed in 1972 An Island in the Indian Ocean Sri Lanka India

4. Separated from India by the Palk Strait Land area 67,000 sq.miles.

5. Topogrophy and Provinces - 9 Provinces 20 million people North East Monsoon Dec. - March South - West Monsoon June – Oct.

6. People Religions and Languages Sinhalese – 80% Buddhists 70% and Christians 30% Tamil - 8% Hindus (majority) and Christians Moslems, Malay, Burgher (mixture of Portuguese, Dutch and British descendents) - 12% High literacy rate – 90.1%

7. PHOTOGRAPHIC TOUR

8. Photos on this page by: Ajithaa Edirimane Colombo Capital of Sri Lanka Population: 2 million Tallest buildings in South Asia

9. Central hills Lakes and rivers Mahaweli – 506 miles Photos on this page by: Ajithaa Edirimane

10. Tea Estate in the central hill country

11. Sunny beaches all around the island Temp. 25c – 32c

12. FAUNA & FLORA HISTORICAL SITES

13. Sri Lanka: Part of the World's 25 Biodiversity Hot Spots (Belonging to one of Earth’s Biologically Richest and Most Endangered Eco-regions) To fall in to this Category, the region should contain at least 1500 endemic Species and have lost 70% of its original habitat

14. 23% of the flowering plants and 16% of the mammals in the island are endemic to Sri Lanka Photo by : Ajithaa Edirimane

15. Sri Lanka is a birds paradise with 435 resident species, out of which, 26 are endemic to Sri Lanka

16. SIGIRIYA ‘ Fortress in the Sky’ (477 – 495 AD) UNESCO World Heritage Site

17. View of the Sigiriya rock surface

18. SIGIRIYA FRESCOES (painted 2000 years ago) Only 19 remain today out of 500 - Covers an area 140 meters in length and 40 meters high

19. Kandy 16 A.D.- 1815 UNESCO World Heritage site Dalada Maligawa Tooth relic of Lord Buddha brought to Sri Lanka in 4 A.D.

20. ECONOMY

21. Economy Open economy since ‘77 Major Exports - Tea, Rubber, Coconut, Gems, Garments

22. Major revenue Textiles and garments account for more than 60% of the GDP. 5 Investment Zones with tax exemptions for investors Industries - food processing, textiles and apparel, food and beverages, telecommunications, insurance and banking.

23. LAW & GOVERNANCE

24. Supreme Court of Sri Lanka Law: Mixture of English Common Law, Roman Dutch Law and customary laws; Kandyan Law, Tamil Thesavalami Law, Muslim Law Parliament (225 seats); Members elected by popular vote on the basis of a modified proportional representation system by district to serve six-year terms.

25. THE END What lies ahead? Future of the Country Sri Lanka has just come out of a 30 year civil war. It is a country with an educated and intelligent workforce, mostly English speaking. Infrastructure; roadways and Telecommunications, are now being rapidly developed to meet the rising demands of a liberated nation. Prospects for the future are promising.